by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
Treasure hunts usually leave explorers disappointed with a handful of bottlecaps or soda cans. For County Judge Gary Flower and his expedition partner Tom Player, the odds are a little more favorable.
The two men routinely take their children to search for lost relics. Tuesday, they donated six shadow boxes and dozens of antique bottles they found to the Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum.
The collection was assembled from the surrounding land, which was once used as campgrounds by African/ American regiments of Union soldiers. Most notably, the grounds of the
LaVilla School of the Arts were a gold mine of forgotten trinkets. Other pieces in the collection include memorabilia from the Spanish-American War and the 1920s.
Chunks of history are not just lying about to trip over, though. Armed with maps yellowed with age and some investigative research, Flower and Player carefully plot their target areas.
“You never know what you’ll find,” said Flower.
“It’s all hit and miss,” said Player. “Jacksonville has been turned over a number of times.”
Shovels, hoes, a metal detector and a thorough knowledge of the area’s history are the tools of their trade. Unlike scavengers who jump fences in the dark of the night to unearth relics for their own gain, Flower and Player maintain they are careful not to go plundering where they are not wanted.
In their searches, both novice archaeologists refuse to create holes deeper than six feet to keep the owner of each parcel pacified.
“Respect for other people’s property is important,” said Flower. “We get written permission to be on private property.”
While construction sites are fertile ground for artifacts, the opportunities to find relics are dwindling quickly.
“With the redevelopment of LaVilla moving so quickly, these lots are open one day and closed the next,” said Flower.
Civil war artifacts such as a piece of a Confederate cannonball, uniform buttons, epaulets and harmonicas are often found in the LaVilla area. Ordinary items such as containers, buttons, coins, bottles, belt buckles, keys, locks, fishing tackle and a toy cap gun are deemed extraordinary when marked as turn-of-the-century personal effects.
Recovered objects are not subjected to extensive restoration or appraisal and are cleaned with regular household products.
“We pretty much know the value [by studying books on these historical subjects],” said Flower. “It’s important to share these.”
Carol J. Alexander, executive director of the museum, and Flower hatched the idea to donate the artifacts to the museum. A 16-by-20 display case will house the donated items.